FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to a pedal driven vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a pedal driven vehicle that is also motor driven.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a pedal driven vehicle which includes a frame and at least two wheels, a motor being connected to at least one of the wheels, the motor being driven by pneumatic pressure that is obtained from a tank which is housed in the frame, and the pneumatic pressure being obtained from pressurised fluid being stored in the tank.

Preferably, at least a portion of the interior of the frame comprises the tank. The tank may be of a composite material which enables the interior thereof to be pressurised.

The pedal driven vehicle is preferably a bicycle.

In one form of the invention the fluid is a gas. Preferably the gas is air.

Further according to the invention there is provided a compressor attached to the frame and being connected to the tank, the compressor also being connected to and being driven by the rotary movement of at least one of the wheels.

The compressor may be used to add pressurised gas into the tank in the frame by it being operated by means of the rotation of the wheel to which it is connected.

In one form of the invention a release valve may be included in the frame and attached to the tank so as to prevent an excess of pressure from being built up in the interior of the tank.

In a further form of the invention the motor may drive the wheel to which it is attached with the use of a gearing system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION QF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle from the front end according to the invention; and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bicycle from the rear end;

Figure 3 is a side view of the bicycle;

Figure 4 is a front view of the bicycle;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the bicycle through section B-B of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the bicycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A pedal driven vehicle in the form of a bicycle 10 according to the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 6. The bicycle 10 includes a frame 12, a front wheel 14, a rear wheel 16, handlebars 18 and a seat 20. The frame 12 also includes a set of two front forks 22 connected to the front wheel 14 and a mudguard 21. There are also brake levers 23 attached to the handlebars 18. These brake levers

23 are attached to front brakes on the front wheel 14 and to rear brakes on the rear wheel 16.

Bicycle 10 is driven in a conventional way by means of a set of pedals

24 being rotated by the legs of a cyclist using the bicycle 10. This rotation then causes the rotation of the rear wheel 16 about its central axis and thereby causes the forward motion of the bicycle 10. There is a system of gears 26 on the rear wheel 16 which allows for the easier control by the cyclist of the rotational speed of the rear wheel 16.

When the cyclist using bicycle 10 needs additional power to drive the forward motion of the bicycle 10 or the cyclist does not want to use the conventional pedal drive means, bicycle 10 may be driven by a motor 28, which is shown attached to the frame 12 and the rear wheel 16. This motor 28 is driven by pneumatic pressure, the pneumatic pressure being obtained from pressurised air stored in at least one tank 30, which is housed in the frame 12. Further tanks 31 may also be housed in the front forks 22 that form part of frame 12. These tanks 31 are connected to the main tank 30 via high pressure hoses (not shown). Motor 28 drives

the rear wheel 16 by means of a belt or chain drive 32 attached to the right hand side of rim 34 of the rear wheel 16. Motor 28 drives the wheel in this way with the use of a gearing system (not shown) that is controlled by a gear lever 36 located on the handlebars 18.

Tanks 30 and 31 may be made of a strong material, such as a composite material, that allows the interior thereof to be safely pressurised up to a certain required level. The tanks 30, 31 may be of the same material as the rest of the frame 12 and may be formed out of the hollow interior space inside frame 12. Tanks 30 and 31 have sufficient capacity to hold the required amount of pressurised air to enable the correct level of pneumatic pressure to be reached to enable motor 28 to be driven. A release valve 38 is included in frame 12 and connected to tank 30, so as to prevent any excess of pressure from being built up in tanks 30 or 31. In addition, an air inlet valve 39 is also attached to frame 12 and connected to tank 30, to allow tank 30 and therefore tanks 31 to be filled with pressurised air.

A compressor 40 is attached to frame 12 and is connected via a high pressure hose (not shown) to tank 30 in frame 12. Compressor 40 is also driven by a chain or belt drive 42 that is attached to the left hand side of rim 34 of rear wheel 16. The rotary movement of the rear wheel 16 when being driven by conventional pedal power of a cyclist or by free-wheeling as bicycle 10 rides down a hill or declining path drives compressor 40. Compressor 40 then adds further pressurised air to tank 30, thereby increasing the amount of pressurised air available in tank 30 for use in driving motor 28.

Compressor 40 may be switched on for use to add further pressurised air to tanks 30 or 31 as and when the cyclist using bicycle 10 requires it and may then be turned off again when the motor 28 is being used to drive bicycle 10. Air throttle 44 situated on the handlebars 18 is connected to the release valve 38 via a high pressure hose and it is also connected to the motor 28 at this position. The throttle 44 is used to control the flow of pressurised air to motor 28 and to direct excessive pressure from the tanks 30, 31. The pressure inside the tanks 30, 31 is shown on an air pressure gauge 46 that is attached to the handlebars 18. The cyclist can thus check the pressure in the tanks 30, 31 via gauge 46.

It will be noted that in a further embodiment of the invention the pedal driven vehicle may be a tricycle, in which there are two rear wheels 16 that are attached to one another via a common shaft.